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Bebop Spoken There

Steve Coleman: ''If you don't keep learning, your mind slows down. Use it or lose it''. (DownBeat, January 2025).

The Things They Say!

This is a good opportunity to say thanks to BSH for their support of the jazz scene in the North East (and beyond) - it's no exaggeration to say that if it wasn't for them many, many fine musicians, bands and projects across a huge cross section of jazz wouldn't be getting reviewed at all, because we're in the "desolate"(!) North. (M & SSBB on F/book 23/12/24)

Postage

17719 (and counting) posts since we started blogging 17 years ago. 39 of them this year alone and, so far, 39 this month (Jan. 15).

From This Moment On ...

January 2025

Sun 19: Glenn Miller Orchestra UK @ Glasshouse, Gateshead. 3:00pm. ‘Glenn Miller & the Rat Pack Era’.
Sun 19: 4B @ The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay. 3:00pm. Free.
Sun 19: Spilt Milk @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 5:15-7:00pm. Free. Nolan Brothers (vocal harmonies).
Sun 19: Tenement Jazz Band @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 7:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.
Sun 19: Nick Ross Orchestra @ Queen’s Hall, Hexham. 7:30pm.
Sun 19: Freight Train (Tobin/Noble/Clarvis) @ The Globe, Newcastle. 8:00pm.
Sun 19: Jazz Jam @ Fabio’s, Saddler St., Durham. 8:00pm. Free. A Durham University Jazz Society promotion. All welcome.

Mon 20: Harmony Brass @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.

Tue 21: ???

Wed 22: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Wed 22: Take it to the Bridge @ The Globe, Newcastle. 7:30pm. Free.
Wed 22: Darlington Big Band @ Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free. Rehearsal session (open to the public).
Wed 22: Pasadena Roof Orchestra @ Fire Station, Sunderland. 7:30pm.

Thu 23: Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Holystone, Whitley Road, Holystone. 1:00pm. Free. Fortnightly.
Thu 23: Jazz Appreciation North East @ Brunswick Methodist Church, Newcastle NE1 7BJ. 2:00pm. £4.00. Subject: Obituaries 2024.
Thu 23: Jason Isaacs @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 4:30-6:30pm. Free. Vocalist Isaacs working with backing tapes.
Thu 23: Pedal Point Trio @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Fri 24: Zoë Gilby Quartet @ The Gala, Durham. 1:00pm.
Fri 24: Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: Rendezvous Jazz @ The Monkseaton Arms. 1:00pm. Free.
Fri 24: New Orleans Preservation Jazz Band @ The Oxbridge Hotel, Stockton. 1:00pm. £5.00.
Fri 24: Creakin’ Bones & the Sunday Dinners @ Lindisfarne Social Club, Wallsend. 9:00pm. Admission: TBC. Jazz, blues , jump jive, rock ‘n’ roll.

Sat 25: Boys of Brass @ St James’ STACK, Newcastle. 3:30-5:30pm. Free.
Sat 25: Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington. 7:00pm. Free.
Sat 25: Jack & Jay’s Songbook @ Prohibition Bar, Newcastle. 8:00pm. A ‘Jar on the Bar’ gig.

Reviewers wanted

Whilst BSH attempts to cover as many gigs, festivals and albums as possible, to make the site even more comprehensive we need more 'boots on the ground' to cover the albums seeking review - a large percentage of which never get heard - report on gigs or just to air your views on anything jazz related. Interested? then please get in touch. Contact details are on the blog. Look forward to hearing from you. Lance

Friday, December 13, 2019

CD Review: Robin Phillips - RE-VERSƎD

Robin Phillips (vocal/piano); Jihad Darwish (bass); Seb De Krom (drums); Sammy Mayne (alto sax); Brandon Allen (tenor sax).
(Review by Lance)

Having recently heard Michael Bublé and Jason Isaacs live and listened to Harry Connick Jr.'s latest album, Robin Phillips had it all to do - this was put up or shut up time. He didn't shut up - he put up!

As soon as I heard a sample I knew this was worth checking out. Not least because of Phillips' conception of including some lesser known verses of better known GASbook songs and working them back into the song rather than leaving them adrift after the initial 16/32 bars. It worked!

Imagine the aforementioned Connick Jr., the late Peter Skellern and, most significantly, Harry Nillson. All have left an influence but only a slight one. Phillips is his own man and, with a piano style that makes him a rated one, plus a voice that is more than just that of a contemporary crooner, it isn't surprising that he is in demand across the clubs and bars of our capital city.

Not many crooners - even the great and the good - had guys like Mayne and Allen, De Krom and Darwish goosing them along and the horn solos are the perfect icing to enhance the cake.

The ultimate beauty, however, is the discovery of how much more these, oft dismissed, verses added to the meaning of the song - in a sense it's like finding an extra movement to a symphony or an additional verse to a classic poem.

How's about playing the verse at your Xmas party and asking your guests to guess the tune? As a bonus you could then ask them to guess the singer. They won't but, you can bet your life they will next Xmas! - the world will (fingers crossed!)

The CD player is now in repeat mode...
Lance.
Time After Time; Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most; It Had to be You; As Time Goes By; These Foolish Things; On Green Dolphin Street; They Can't Take That Away From Me; A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square; Don't Blame Me.

1 comment :

Liz said...

Many years ago I was on live Radio with Pete Murray, it was a lunch time show, they played the verse, and the listener had to carry on singing the chorus. I was unfortunate to get "One Alone" I knew it, and won a Beatles LP, but my big prob was singing this chorus in a key to suit my voice ( I think it was John Hanson) what a laugh, anyway I enjoyed it, and had a lovely chat with Pete. Yes, agree the verse is everything!

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